Bobbin-driving means for rotatable spindles.



I c. A. SMITH. BOBBIN DRIVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, I935.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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FnVenTor.

n I m mw UNITED STATES 1 1mm OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SMITH, OF I-IOPIElDAIlZJEl, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 DRAPER COMPANY,

OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BOBBIN-DIR-IVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial No. 19,539.

To all 1071 on; it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, county of \Vorccster, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve.- ment in Bobbin-Driving Means for R0- tatable Spindles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like char acters 011 the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to that type of spindle in which bobbin clutching members are provided thereon to enter the base of the bobbin and expand therein, thus to maintain the bobbin in position during the spinning or twisting operation. Such a type of device is shown for example in the patent to F. H. Thompson No. 794.693 granted July 11,1905. I

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and eflicient form. of construction which may be readily and economically manufactured and which will be subject to as little wear as possible and not likely to get out of order.

This invention eliminates any material rubbing action upon the clutch members by the means -employed for their expansion,

secures the necessary spring action tending to expand the same, and enables the pressure of this spring action to be varied as desired. These and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings show the preferred form of the invention asapplied to an ordinary type of. spindle.

In the drawings, Figure l is a partial side elevation of a rotatable spindle provided with the bobbin clutching means of this in vention with a bobbin shown in section in place; Fig. 2 is a similarview to Fig. lwitlr the bobbin removed and with the parts shown partially in vertical.crosssection and with the clutching members expanded; Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section taken just above the annular spring; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the annular spring. a

The rotatable spindle .1 of any suitable character is provided with the usual whirl 2 connected ,with the spindle by the sleeve 3. The upper end of this sleeve is somewhat Snrrn, a.

enlarged and at its periphery is threaded. .An annular cap 4 is threaded onto the upper end of the sleeve and the upper surface of this cap serves as the bobbin rest.

A cylindrical sleeve 5 which may be integral with the sleeve 3 extends upwardly therefrom and surrounds the spindle.

A plurality of bobbin clutching members herein shown as three inmumber is provided. Each bobbin clutching member has'a long arm 6 which when in position extends up alongside the spindle and each also has a short arm 7 extending radially outward at the lower end. These bobbin clutching members are segmental in shape so that when in position their outer surfaces will lit within the recess at the bottom of'the bobbin and at their upper ends the arms 6 are curved slightly inwardly to allow the bobbin more readily to slip thereover.

Means areprovided to limit the outward movement of the outer ends of the bobbin clutching members and these means are shown as a collar 8 fast on the spindle and having a depending annular flange 9 while The inner seat 11 To secure this fulcrum action the lower ends of the bobbin clutching members are curved where they rest upon the seat 11, but it is not essential that the fulcrum line shall be at thebottom of the bobbin seat as the fulcrum action may be secured in any suitable manner.

The lower ends ofthe bobbin clutching members are prevented from moving too far inwardly and maintained in pro er position with respect to the spindle by *ans'of the sleeve 5, and they are maintained in equidistant relation around the spindle by .pins

13 projecting upwardly from the support or sleeve 3.

The movement of the upper ends of the to engage the bobbin is secured by applying yielding or spring pressure to the exterior of the bobbin clutchingrmembers so as to cause thorn to rock about their fulcrum edges. In the preferred form of the invention described this spring action is secured in a very simple and ellicient manner by an annular spring resting upon and applying its force to the shorter arms 7 of the bobbin clutching members. This spring is preferably of the construction shown in Fig. l. As therein shown it is a fiat annular band 14: of suitable spring metal and is preferably provided with radially inwardly projecting and slightly downwardly bent fingers lVhen in position this spring is located over the seat 12 with its fingers 15 resting upon the several shorter arms 7 of the bobbin clutching members. The pressure of this annular spring upon the bobbin clutching members is secured through the medium oi the cap 4 which is adjustably secured to the support 8 by the threaded cugagement therewith above described. By screwing the cap upon; the support "3 the pressure of the annular spring upon the shorter arms-I of the bobbin clutching members may be varied as desired. In Fig. 2 the cap it is shown screwed down to exert full pr '8 so that by unscrewing the cap the p sure of the annular spring upon the shorter arm 7 of the bobbin clutching members is correspondingly decreased.

It will thus be seen that a construction is provided which may be readily manufactured. and easily assembled, in which any desired. degree of spring pressure may be placed upon the bobbin clutching members to throw them outwardly into engagement with the bobbiln and in which there is no rubbing action on the bobbin clutching members, or any other action materially tending to produce wear or render the parts liable to get out of order.

' Haring fully described my invention what'lj claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Bobbin driving means for rotatable spindles comprising a rotatable spindle: a support snarl-minding said spindle and pro vided with concentric seats; a plurality of bobbin clutching members each having a long arm extending up alongside the spind1c..a short arm extending radially outward,

and fulcruming on the inner seat; a flat annular spring over the outer seat providcrh with radially inwardly projecting and downwardly bent fingers resting on said short arms; and an annular cap extending over and contracting with said spring and adjust ably secured to said. support whereby the pressure of the spring on, and acting to expand, the clutch members may be varied.

2. Bobbin driving means for rotatable spindles comprising a rotatable spindle; a support surrounding said spindle and provided with concentric seats; a plurality of bobbin clutching members each having a long arm extending up alongside the spindle, a short arm extending radiallyoutward, and fulcruming on the inner seat; a flat annular spring over the outer seat provided with radially inwardly projecting fingers resting on said short arms; an annular lap extending over and contacting with said spring and adjustably secured to said sup port whereby the pressure of the spring on, and acting to expand the clutch members may be varied; and means for limiting'the outward movement of the upper ends of said clutching members Bobbin clutching means for rotatable spindles comprising-1a rotatablespindle; a supportsurrounding said spindle; a plural ity of bobbin clutching members each having a long arm extending up alongside the spindle, a short arm extending radially outward and fulcruming on said support; an annular spring over the support provided with radially inwardly projecting fingers resting on said short arms; and an annular cap extending over and contacting with said spring and adjustably secured to said support whereby the pressure of the spring on, and acting to expand, the clutch members may be varied.

l. Bobbin driving means for rotatable spindles comprising a. rotatable spindle; a support surrounding said spindle; a pluraL ity of bobbin clutching members surrounding said spindle and fulcrumed on said support; resilient means engaging said members cxteriorly and acting to rock said members about their fulcrums to throw their upper ends outwardly; means for limiting the outward movement of said members and means for adjusting the pressure applied by said resilient means to said members.

5. Bobbin driving means for rotatable spindles comprising a rotatable spindle; a plurality of elongated bobbin clutching members surrounding said spindle and fuli-rnmed with respectthereto resilient means engaging said members exteriorly and acting to rock said members about their fut 'crums to throw the upper ends outwardly.

and means for adjusting the pressure-applied by said resilient means to said members.

In testimony whereof I haw name to this specification.

CHARLFLE .ilrllTH. 

